“I also think the kids felt the need to get off to a fast start after the lackluster beginning versus Chapel Hill [in the state semifinals].”

Like they have all season, St. Pius’s stalwart backcourt tandem of Asia Durr and Jasmine Carter combined to do a number on Dawson.

Durr poured in 26 points, eight rebounds and a handful of dazzling assists. Carter, meanwhile, chipped in with 19 points, five boards and four assists of her own. Fellow guard and sharpshooter MacKenzie Garrison contributed 11 points of her own.

Durr and company held Dawson’s potent offense in check, including its heralded point guard-post tandem of Carly Gilreath and Sheyenne Seabolt.

“Defensively, we set the tone early and I think that rattled them initially,” Snipes said.

After falling behind by double digits early, the Lady Tigers stormed back to make a game of it — even taking a brief lead later in the first half. But, St. Pius countered with a quick-scoring offense to put some distance between itself and its challenger by halftime … later pulling away in the third period to essentially close the show.

“Credit to [Dawson] for coming back,” said Snipes. “A team that shoots the ball as well as they do is always within striking distance.”

The win gave St. Pius X its fourth girls’ state basketball championship — and first since 2007.

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